Preventing Tooth Decay and Gum Disease - Doctor Q&A

Tooth brushing alone isn't the most effective way to keep your teeth clean.

There is still 40% of your tooth surface that cannot be reached by toothbrushing alone.

Dental plaque can build up between the teeth where a toothbrush cannot get to. This is because the toothbrush bristles cannot reach the tight surfaces and narrow spaces in between the teeth.

Gaps occurring between teeth due to gum disease are also areas which the ordinary toothbrush cannot clean thoroughly.

That is why interdental (in-between teeth) cleaning aids – such as dental floss and interdental brushes are important.

Using interdental aids such as flossing and interdental brushes to clean gaps and surfaces in between teeth is one of the most important things you can do to change the health of your smile for the better.

In this ‘Ask the Specialist’ Q&A forum, don't miss the chance to ask Dr Chee Hoe Kit to find out more about cleaning between the teeth by asking questions such as:

• Why is it important to clean in between the teeth?
• How do I know if I should use an interdental cleaning aid?
• What is interdental cleaning and how do I do it properly?
• What happens if I do not floss my teeth?
• When’s the best time to floss?
• Should I brush or floss first?
• Can I rinse and reuse floss?
• How to use interdental brushes?
• How do I choose the correct interdental brush size?
• How do I know if I have poor gums?
• What treatment is there for gum disease?

Or any other question related to preventing tooth decay and gum disease! This Q&A is open for one month only!

Catch this video of Dr Chee Hoe Kit sharing on the importance of flossing, how to do it correctly and how to choose the different types of interdental cleaning aids.

Clinical Assistant Professor Chee Hoe Kit is a fully qualified and experienced gum specialist who works full-time in the National Dental Centre of Singapore as a Senior Consultant in the Periodontics Unit, Department of Restorative Dentistry.

He also leads the Dental Clinic at the Diabetes & Metabolism Centre in the Singapore General Hospital, a clinical service that provides periodontal screening and treatment in patients with diabetes.

Apart from gums, Clin Assist Prof Chee also treats patients with dental implants and its related surgical therapies.

He is also an educator with SingHealth Duke-NUS teaching postgraduate students in periodontology and a clinician-scientist doing research on periodontal health and its impact on diabetes mellitus and he has also given several talks on oral health and diabetes to the general public as well as to medical and dental clinicians.

1. Question by TL Koon

Hi Dr,

Kindly give a reply on the following:

a) How to use interdental brush properly?

b) How do I choose the correct interdental brush size?

c) When is the best time to use interdental brush?

d) Is it necessary to also use floss, besides interdental brush?

Thank you.

Answer by Clin Asst Prof Chee Hoe Kit

a) Place the interdental brush on the gumline between two teeth and insert it into the space between the two teeth by making small, rotating movements.

Push the brush portion gently all the way through and then pull it out once before rinsing with water and move on to the next space.

b) Different brands of interdental brushes may have different sizes or color codes with each other. Depending on the brand of interdental brush that you have chosen:

First look in the mirror and see the where the gap or space between 2 teeth is and roughly estimate the nearest size of the interdental brush for that space. Then insert the brush into the interdental space while it is close to the gums but do not force it through.

Start with the size you have initially chosen for that space and if it feels too “loose” between the 2 teeth,  work another size up until you could feel the bristles engage the teeth surfaces and the gum tissue.

The correct interdental brush should have a snug fit between the 2 teeth and the wire in the centre of the bristles shouldn’t touch the sides of the teeth or the gums. You will likely need to have more than 1 size of interdental brush for all the different gaps or spaces between the teeth.

To know how to choose the correct interdental brush size, you can also try checking out this video.

c) It is usually best to use interdental brushes after brushing your teeth before going to bed.

d) If you have extremely narrow gaps and tight contact areas between teeth which interdental brushes won’t fit in, then flossing is advised to clean those areas of the entire set of teeth.

2. Question by Thomas

Hi Dr,

a) How to use interdental brushes?

b) How do I choose the correct interdental brush size?

Thank you for your advice.

Answer by Clin Asst Prof Chee Hoe Kit

a) Place the interdental brush on the gumline between two teeth and insert it into the space between the two teeth by making small, rotating movements.

Push the brush portion gently all the way through and then pull it out once before rinsing with water and move on to the next space.

b) Different brands of interdental brushes may have different sizes or color codes with each other. Depending on the brand of interdental brush that you have chosen:

First look in the mirror and see the where the gap or space between 2 teeth is and roughly estimate the nearest size of the interdental brush for that space. Then insert the brush into the interdental space while it is close to the gums but do not force it through.

Start with the size you have initially chosen for that space and if it feels too “loose” between the 2 teeth,  work another size up until you could feel the bristles engage the teeth surfaces and the gum tissue.

The correct interdental brush should have a snug fit between the 2 teeth and the wire in the centre of the bristles shouldn’t touch the sides of the teeth or the gums. You will likely need to have more than 1 size of interdental brush for all the different gaps or spaces between the teeth.

To know how to choose the correct interdental brush size, you can also try checking out this video.

3. Question by Catherine

Hi Prof Chee,

How effective are water dental flosser? Can we replace thread floss with water flosser? Thank you.

Answer by Clin Asst Prof Chee Hoe Kit

Some research studies have demonstrated that the use of water dental flosser plus using the manual toothbrush is an effective oral care regimen for controlling gingivitis.

If you find that using the thread floss is difficult to reach all the interdental areas of your teeth and cost is not an issue, then you may replace thread floss with a water flosser device instead of using both.

However, toothbrushing is still essential regardless of whether you use any interdental cleaning aids.

4. Question by Phyllis

Hi Prof Chee,

a) Can use water flosser iso dental floss? Will dental floss cause the gum to recede n teeth move if not done correctly?

b) Can I use electric toothbrush for better gum health?

c) how soon can I brush my teeth after lunch/dinner?

d) is it good to use mouth rinse after flossing? Despite using floss n interdental brush, my teeth still hv plaque between the gaps ☹

Answer by Clin Asst Prof Chee Hoe Kit

a) Some research studies have demonstrated that the use of water dental flosser plus using the manual toothbrush is an effective oral care regimen for controlling gingivitis.

So yes, you may use the water flosser instead of the traditional string floss. If you use it correctly, the dental floss should not cause the gums to recede or the teeth to drift apart.

d) There is no harm in using mouth rinses after flossing. You will not be able to eliminate the plaque between the gaps as it will always form again as long there is teeth in the mouth.

However you should continue to brush the teeth and use interdental cleaning aids plus visit the dentist to advise you more on the plaque control of your teeth more carefully.

5. Question by Catherine

Dear Prof Chee

I have below few doubts that need your expert advice on gum care.

a) How often do I need to brush & floss my teeth, is it necessary to both after every meal?=

b) How often do I need to go for scaling & polishing if I have weak gum?

c) What are the daily foods that will help to strengthen the gum?

Thank you for your time & appreciate your advices on above issues.

Answer by Clin Asst Prof Chee Hoe Kit

a) You need to brush your teeth at least 2 times a day. You should floss your teeth once a day. It is not necessary to do both after every meal but would be good if you have the time to do so.

b) If you have weak gums, scaling and polishing of the teeth may not be adequate. Hence you should see your dentist or an oral health therapist or gum specialist to examine your gums thoroughly before determining whether you need any proper gum treatment and the follow-up maintenance visit interval.

6. Question by Lily

Dear Prof Chee, 

I had an implant done on my lower tooth slightly more than a year ago.

The implant crown was rotating and the prosthodontist attended to it only 3 weeks later stating that it was not an immediate urgency.

After the rotating implant crown issue was addressed, still found the site to have some discomfort and that was when I noticed my gum has receded and brought up the issue with my periodontist.

I was informed there was a cut near to the site and the gum had receded and also the bone may be affected.

And the area had to be monitored for about 3-4 months to see if gum or bone grafting will be needed.

I would like to know what to do if in the future should I face similar issue like a rotating implant crown, should the issue be rectified immediately or there can be a waiting period.

Another question is should we floss or brush first?

Thank you for your valuable time.

Answer by Clin Asst Prof Chee Hoe Kit

There’s no hard and fast rule about which should be done first although flossing before brushing has been shown to be more beneficial than if you brush first and then floss.

The most important thing however is that you’re doing both properly whether you prefer to brush or floss first. That said, it may be easier and more effective to remove any larger pieces of food trapped between teeth by flossing first before brushing.

Flossing first may help to ensure that you actually get flossing done because for some, brushing first may then cause flossing to be skipped altogether because the mouth already feels clean or are short on time or tired.

By flossing first, the tight and narrow areas in between teeth are cleared of plaque so that when you brush afterwards, the fluoride from toothpaste can also coat the surfaces in between teeth more thoroughly.

7. Question by Carol

Dear Prof Chee

• Why is it important to clean in between the teeth?

• How do I know if I should use an interdental cleaning aid?

• What is interdental cleaning and how do I do it properly?

• What happens if I do not floss my teeth?

• When’s the best time to floss?

• Should I brush or floss first?

• Can I rinse and reuse floss?

• How to use interdental brushes?

• How do I choose the correct interdental brush size?

• How do I know if I have poor gums?

• What treatment is there for gum disease?

• Is shaky & jutting tooth due to poor gum health?

I look forward to your replies.

Answer by Clin Asst Prof Chee Hoe Kit

Why is it important to clean in between the teeth?

Cleaning in between the teeth is important because normal tooth brushing alone doesn’t get to the narrow areas in between the teeth and hence when food trap or dental plaque accumulates in those gaps and are not cleaned away, it can lead to cavities or gum disease.

How do I know if I should use an interdental cleaning aid?

You should consider using an interdental cleaning aid (floss, interdental brush) if you have noticeable gaps in between your teeth, if you are wearing orthodontic braces, or if you have crowns or bridges, or during and after treatment for gum disease

What is interdental cleaning and how do I do it properly?

Interdental cleaning is the removal of food debris and dental plaque that collects in between two adjacent teeth by using dental floss and/or interdental brushes.

To do flossing properly, the salient steps are as follows:

a) Snap off a piece of dental floss at least 1 foot long. Wrap each end of the floss around the index fingers of both hands, leaving a few inches of floss in the middle.

b) Pinch the floss tightly between your thumbs and index fingers to make it taut and easier to manoeuvre in your mouth. Start by flossing either the upper or lower teeth from the front teeth one quadrant at a time.

c) By holding the floss with the thumbs and index fingers, gently slide the floss between two teeth while looking at the mirror. By now one finger holding one end of the floss is inside the mouth while the other hand is outside.

d) Insert the floss gently between the teeth and slide the floss in an up-and-down motion along the sides of the adjacent teeth, reaching just underneath the gum line. Do this 2-3 times for each entry in between the teeth.

e) Continue flossing by moving from each of the front to the back teeth until you have completed one quadrant before flossing another quadrant. Unwind a little fresh floss from one finger and rewind the used floss onto the other and you may wash away any debris collected by the floss.

To do interdental brushing properly, please refer to the answer of your question “How to use interdental brushes?” below.

What happens if I do not floss my teeth?

Without flossing, the hard-to-reach tooth surfaces in between two adjacent teeth will accumulate food trap and plaque that will increase the likelihood of causing gum disease and tooth decay.

When’s the best time to floss?

The recommended best time to floss is at night, right before you brush your teeth and go to bed. During sleep at night, the salivary flow decreases hence bacteria that remain between your teeth have hours of uninterrupted time to feed on leftover food and produce the acids that cause cavities and gum inflammation.

Thus, flossing before bed clears out the debris and bacterial buildup that would otherwise sit undisturbed all night. That said, the most important thing is that you do it once a day, regardless of when.

Of course, whenever you feel there is food trap in between the teeth, you should get rid of it by flossing rather then to wait till when you brush the teeth before going to bed at night.

Should I brush or floss first?

There’s no hard and fast rule about which should be done first although flossing before brushing has been shown to be more beneficial than if you brush first and then floss. The most important thing however is that you’re doing both properly whether you prefer to brush or floss first.

Can I rinse and reuse floss?

You can rinse the floss while using it but it should be thrown away after the first use. Do use a new floss when you next perform flossing.

How to use interdental brushes?

Place the interdental brush on the gumline between two teeth and insert it into the space between the two teeth by making small, rotating movements. Push the brush portion gently all the way through and then pull it out once before rinsing with water and move on to the next space.

How do I choose the correct interdental brush size?

Different brands of interdental brushes may have different sizes or color codes with each other. Depending on the brand of interdental brush that you have chosen, first look in the mirror and see where the gap or space between 2 teeth is and roughly estimate the nearest size of the interdental brush for that space. Then insert the brush into the interdental space while it is close to the gums but do not force it through. Start with the size you have initially chosen for that space and if it feels too “loose” between the 2 teeth, work another size up until you can feel the bristles engage the teeth surfaces and the gum tissue. The correct interdental brush should have a snug fit between the 2 teeth and the wire in the centre of the bristles shouldn’t touch the sides of the teeth or the gums. You will likely need to have more than 1 size of interdental brush for all the different gaps or spaces between the teeth.

How do I know if I have poor gums?

Signs and symptoms of poor gums (which could be due to gum disease) are such as bleeding gums when brushing or flossing your teeth; red, swollen or receding gums where the roots of your teeth can be seen; shaky or loose teeth or teeth appearing to drift apart from their original positions

What treatment is there for gum disease?

Treatment for gum disease is known as periodontal therapy which involves professional mechanical plaque removal and root surface debridement, oral hygiene instruction, periodontal maintenance. Periodontal therapy is first performed as non-surgical and when certain teeth do not improve after repeated treatment as mentioned above, then you may be recommended to have gum surgery to be performed by the gum specialist to treat the more difficult sites affected by gum disease.

Is shaky & jutting tooth due to poor gum health?

Shaky teeth and flaring teeth could be due to gum disease but this ought to be examined and diagnosed properly by the dentist.

8. Question by YH

Hi Dr,

Below my questions:

• How do I know if I should use an interdental cleaning aid?

• What is interdental cleaning and how do I do it properly?

• How do I choose the correct interdental brush size?

• How effective is the electric toothbrush? I started to use it because it is difficult to brush in circular movements and the electric toothbrush could do the job. Thank you.

Answer by Clin Asst Prof Chee Hoe Kit

How do I know if I should use an interdental cleaning aid?

You should consider using an interdental cleaning aid (floss, interdental brush) if you have noticeable gaps in between your teeth, if you are wearing orthodontic braces, or if you have crowns or bridges, or during and after treatment for gum disease

What is interdental cleaning and how do I do it properly?

Interdental cleaning is the removal of food debris and dental plaque that collects in between two adjacent teeth by using dental floss and/or interdental brushes.

To do flossing properly, the salient steps are as follows:

a) Snap off a piece of dental floss at least 1 foot long. Wrap each end of the floss around the index fingers of both hands, leaving a few inches of floss in the middle.

b) Pinch the floss tightly between your thumbs and index fingers to make it taut and easier to manoeuvre in your mouth. Start by flossing either the upper or lower teeth from the front teeth one quadrant at a time.

c) By holding the floss with the thumbs and index fingers, gently slide the floss between two teeth while looking at the mirror. By now one finger holding one end of the floss is inside the mouth while the other hand is outside.

d) Insert the floss gently between the teeth and slide the floss in an up-and-down motion along the sides of the adjacent teeth, reaching just underneath the gum line. Do this 2-3 times for each entry in between the teeth.

e) Continue flossing by moving from each of the front to the back teeth until you have completed one quadrant before flossing another quadrant. Unwind a little fresh floss from one finger and rewind the used floss onto the other and you may wash away any debris collected by the floss.

To do interdental brushing properly, place the interdental brush on the gumline between two teeth and insert it into the space between the two teeth by making small, rotating movements. Push the brush portion gently all the way through and then pull it out once before rinsing with water and move on to the next space.

How do I choose the correct interdental brush size?

Different brands of interdental brushes may have different sizes or color codes with each other. Depending on the brand of interdental brush that you have chosen, first look in the mirror and see the where the gap or space between 2 teeth is and roughly estimate the nearest size of the interdental brush for that space. Then insert the brush into the interdental space while it is close to the gums but do not force it through. Start with the size you have initially chosen for that space and if it feels too “loose” between the 2 teeth,  work another size up until you could feel the bristles engage the teeth surfaces and the gum tissue. The correct interdental brush should have a snug fit between the 2 teeth and the wire in the centre of the bristles shouldn’t touch the sides of the teeth or the gums. You will likely need to have more than 1 size of interdental brush for all the different gaps or spaces between the teeth.

How effective is the electric toothbrush? I started to use it because it is difficult to brush in circular movements and the electric toothbrush could do the job.

Research studies have shown that, in general, electric toothbrushes are equally effective as manual tooth brushes. However electric toothbrushes decrease more plaque and gingivitis than manual toothbrushes.

9. Question by Regina

Hi Prof Chee,

Below are my questions:

a) When is the best time to floss?

b) Should I brush or floss first?

c) Can I rinse and reuse floss?

d) What treatment is there for gum disease?

e) My upper right gum bleeds for 3 days even when I touch it softly and stop bleeding by itself, may I know what is the likely cause and should I just leave it since it no longer bleeding?

f) As they are gap in between my teethes, those next to it grow in a slanting ways, any concerns? I am age 71, female. What can I do with those gap, it causes food stuck in it that is very discomfort. Will the gap become bigger if I use floss holder? It causes slight discomfort when I push it into the gap.

I do teeth cleaning twice a year at dental clinic.

Thank you for your advice.

Answer by Clin Asst Prof Chee Hoe Kit

a) When is the best time to floss?

The recommended best time to floss is at night, right before you brush your teeth and go to bed. During sleep at night, the salivary flow decreases hence bacteria that remain between your teeth have hours of uninterrupted time to feed on leftover food and produce the acids that cause cavities and gum inflammation. Thus, flossing before bed clears out the debris and bacterial buildup that would otherwise sit undisturbed all night.  That said, the most important thing is that you do it once a day, regardless of when. Of course, whenever you feel there is food trap in between the teeth, you should get rid of it by flossing rather then to wait till when you brush the teeth before going to bed at night.

b) Should I brush or floss first?

There’s no hard and fast rule about which should be done first   although flossing before brushing has been shown to be more beneficial than if you brush first and then floss. The most important thing however is that you’re doing both properly whether you prefer to brush or floss first.

c) Can I rinse and reuse floss?

You can rinse the floss while using it but it should be thrown away after the first use. Do use a new floss when you next perform flossing.

d) What treatment is there for gum disease?

Treatment for gum disease is known as periodontal therapy which involves professional mechanical plaque removal and root surface debridement, oral hygiene instruction, periodontal maintenance. Periodontal therapy is first performed as non-surgical and when certain teeth do not improve after repeated treatment as mentioned above, then you may be recommended to have gum surgery to be performed by the gum specialist to treat the more difficult sites still affected by gum disease.

e) My upper right gum bleeds for 3 days even when I touch it softly and stop bleeding by itself, may I know what is the likely cause and should I just leave it since it no longer bleeding?

You should visit the dentist to get a proper examination and diagnosis of your upper right gum although it is no longer bleeding as it may recur.

f) As they are gap in between my teethes, those next to it grow in a slanting ways, any concerns? I am age 71, female. What can I do with those gap, it causes food stuck in it that is very discomfort. Will the gap become bigger if I use floss holder? It causes slight discomfort when I push it into the gap.

Gaps in between teeth will invariably cause the adjacent teeth to drift into the gap space which typically appear as slanting of the tooth that has drifted. This is because there is no resistance for the adjacent teeth to move into the available space. The usual concern is that it may appear unesthetic if this occurs in the front teeth region and sometimes it may affect how the upper and lower teeth bite together properly. Therefore, you may ask your dentist to check on this issue to determine if your teeth occlusion is still fine and if the gaps can be closed based on your teeth arrangement with each other. You should use an interdental brush or floss to remove food trap in the gaps in between teeth to reduce the discomfort due to the gum inflammation caused by the trapped debris. The gaps should not become bigger by using the floss holder if it is performed correctly in an up-and-down motion of the flossing action.

10. Question by Eileen

Dear Doctor, 

How do I clean my implant tooth? Do I need to use any special floss? Is it the usual scaling and polishing at the dentist? Anything to note about taking care of tooth implant?

Also, which is a better way of preventing tooth decay? Fluoride mouthwash or rubbing toothpaste at the teeth and leaving it there?

Thank you for your advice.

Answer by Clin Asst Prof Chee Hoe Kit

You can clean your implant tooth by using the normal floss or an interdental brush. Generally, polishing is done for the crown of the implant and the scaling is performed with titanium scaler tips. It is advisable that you should return to the same dentist who treated the implant tooth for you in the first place for continued care and maintenance protocol of the implant as the same dentist who placed it knows the condition of the site and all your teeth before the implant was placed.

To prevent tooth decay, there is no harm to use a fluoride mouthwash or rubbing toothpaste at the teeth and leaving it there. More importantly, you need to:

• Brush your teeth by doing the correct technique at least 2 times a day and 2 minutes each time by using a fluoridated toothpaste.
• Floss your teeth once daily and use interdental brushes if there are gaps in between teeth.
• Visit your dentist once every 6 months to a year to check for teeth decay that may still occur for various reasons.
• Avoid snacking in between meals which will cause food trap on teeth surfaces.

11. Question by SK

Dear Prof Chee,

I would like to ask the following questions:

a) When is the best time to floss?

b) How many times should I floss?

c) Should I brush or floss first?

d) Should I rinse out the toothpaste after I brush my teeth? Would the ingested fluoride bad for my body?

e) Can I rinse and reuse floss?

f) How do I know if I have poor gums?

g) And lastly, what treatments are there for gum disease?

Thanks much.

Answer by Clin Asst Prof Chee Hoe Kit

a) When is the best time to floss?

The recommended best time to floss is at night, right before you brush your teeth and go to bed. During sleep at night, the salivary flow decreases hence bacteria that remain between your teeth have hours of uninterrupted time to feed on leftover food and produce the acids that cause cavities and gum inflammation. Thus, flossing before bed clears out the debris and bacterial buildup that would otherwise sit undisturbed all night. That said, the most important thing is that you do it once a day, regardless of when. Of course, whenever you feel there is food trapped in between the teeth, you should get rid of it by flossing rather than to wait till night when you brush your teeth before going to bed.

b) How many times should I floss?

Once a day

c) Should I brush or floss first?

There’s no hard and fast rule about which should be done first although flossing before brushing has been shown to be more beneficial than if you brush first and then floss. The most important thing however is that you’re doing both properly whether you prefer to brush or floss first.

d) Should I rinse out the toothpaste after I brush my teeth?

Conventional wisdom around rinsing your mouth out with water after brushing is basically to avoid accidentally swallowing high concentrations of fluoride. In addition, the urge to rinse out the toothpaste after brushing is to replace the strong, minty taste of toothpaste in your mouth with something neutral, like water.

However it is thought that, when you rinse immediately after brushing, the benefit of having fluoride stay longer on your teeth from the toothpaste is then lost. So it is not harmful if you allow the toothpaste mixture stay longer by a few minutes onto the teeth after brushing as long as you have the patience and do not swallow the toothpaste mixture.

But on a practical basis, if you are already brushing at least 2 minutes twice daily, then the fluoride from the toothpaste would also have the time to be applied onto the teeth surfaces and thus, you can still opt to rinse out the toothpaste after brushing the teeth.

Would the ingested fluoride bad for my body?

Ingesting too much fluoride can result in nausea, diarrhoea and abdominal pain but these side effects are extremely rare when only a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste is used.

e) Can I rinse and reuse floss?

You can rinse the floss while using it but it should be thrown away after the first use. Do use a new floss when you next perform flossing.

f) How do I know if I have poor gums?

Signs and symptoms of poor gums (which could be due to gum disease) are such as bleeding gums when brushing or flossing your teeth; red, swollen or receding gums where the roots of your teeth can be seen; shaky or loose teeth or teeth appearing to drift apart from their original position.

g) And lastly, what treatments are there for gum disease?

Treatment for gum disease is known as periodontal therapy which involves professional mechanical plaque removal and root surface debridement, oral hygiene instruction, periodontal maintenance.

Periodontal therapy is first performed as non-surgical and when certain teeth do not improve after repeated treatment as mentioned above, then you may be recommended to have gum surgery to be performed by a gum specialist to treat the more difficult sites affected by gum disease.

12. Question by Ms Lim

Hi Doctor,

Appreciate your advice on the following questions:

a) For individuals with sensitive and receding gums, what are the proper methods to brush teeth and keep teeth clean? What types of toothbrush should we use?

b) How do we gargle to prevent gums from feeling pain?

c) How to prevent plaque/cavities from forming easily?

Thanks.

Answer by Clin Asst Prof Chee Hoe Kit

a) For individuals with sensitive and receding gums, what are the proper methods to brush teeth and keep teeth clean?

• Hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to your gumline. The bristles should point slightly under the gum margin, allowing them to gently enter the narrow space between the gum and the tooth.
• Instead of scrubbing back and forth, use gentle, vibrating/jiggling motions. This allows the bristles to dislodge plaque without damaging your gums.
• Brush each section of your mouth systematically, ensuring you cover all teeth from the front to the rear, including the back and chewing surfaces. Spend at least two minutes brushing.

What types of toothbrush should we use?

Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to avoid damaging your gums. Use a toothbrush head size that is not too large.

b) How to prevent plaque/cavities from forming easily?

• Brush at least twice a day at 2 minutes each time.
• Floss daily and use an interdental brush for gaps in between teeth.
• Avoid snacking in between meals.

Ref: F26